Bill Text: IL SR0426 | 2017-2018 | 100th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourns the death of William Grant Sisson of Wadsworth.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2017-04-27 - Resolution Adopted [SR0426 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2017-SR0426-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois Senate are saddened to
learn of the death of William Grant Sisson of Wadsworth, who
passed away on April 2, 2017; and
WHEREAS, William Sisson was born in Waukegan to Walter
George and Erma Boyer Sisson on January 6, 1922; he moved to
Zion when he was 17, where he lived until he was 78; he was part
of the first graduating class of Zion Benton Township High
School in 1940, where he loved to play the trombone in the
first school band and earned the first varsity letter ever in
basketball; growing up, he was a member of Grace Church in
Zion; he also played in the Zion Concert Band and in the Zion
Orchestra; after graduating from high school in 1940, he and
his 72-year-old father, Walter, started Sisson Sheet Metal; and
WHEREAS, William Sisson was involved in the World War II
effort at Abbott Laboratories before enlisting in the United
States Navy; he served in the Navy Medical Corps from 1944 to
1946 and was stationed at Bremerton, Washington; he was then
sent to Eniwetok, an atoll in the Pacific Ocean; he married
Barbara Jane Baughman on November 24, 1944; and
WHEREAS, William started a wholesale heating and air
conditioning business, Mid-Way Supply, Inc. in Zion in 1948,

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which grew to employ 100 people at its peak; in 1973, IBM
featured him in a small business advertisement in the Wall
Street Journal for his early adoption of computers in his
business; he retired from Mid-Way in 1990; and
WHEREAS, William Sisson served on the Zion State Bank Board
of Directors, was on the Lake County Board of Supervisors as
Assistant Zion Township Supervisor, and served as a trustee for
the North American Heating and Air-Conditioning Wholesalers
Association; he was on the board of the Lake County Heating
Contractors Association and served on the board of the Zion
Historical Society; after many years on the board of the Zion
Evangelical Mission of Africa, he was given an honorary
lifetime membership; and
WHEREAS, William Sisson visited Africa, Australia, China,
Europe, and South America; in his 50s, he rode his bicycle from
Zion to Indianapolis, Indiana; he visited all 50 states, and
after retiring, he took his family and friends on adventures in
his recreational vehicle; he bought a farm in Lindenhurst, now
known as Grant's Grove, where he planted thousands of trees and
hosted hundreds of picnics and parties, including a few
weddings; he also passed out thousands of books on topics that
he was passionate about; and
WHEREAS, William Sisson served on the Camp Zion Board of

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Directors and served for over 20 years as work party
coordinator; in addition, he worked as a youth leader, served
on a pastoral search committee, worked faithfully as an usher,
and played in the orchestra for the Zion Passion Play; and
WHEREAS, William Sisson and his wife were members of
Christian Catholic Church (now Christ Community Church) in
Zion, where he was active for over 70 years; and
WHEREAS, William Sisson was preceded in death by his
parents; his sister, Florence Montroy; and his great-grandson,
Asher David Phillips; and
WHEREAS, William Sisson is survived by his wife of 72
years, Barbara; his children, Kay Sisson, Karilyn (Tom) Jones,
Ken (Jeri) Sisson, and Karl (Kathy) Sisson; his grandchildren,
Andrew (Phiona) Sisson, Becca Jones, Gretchen (Kyle) Phillips,
Elli Jones, Nate (Megan) Sisson, Tim Jones, Haley Sisson,
Matthew Sisson, Grant A. Sisson, Kelly Sisson, Jack Sisson, and
David Sisson; his great-grandchildren, Alaina, Stephen, James,
and Kaitrin Phillips, and Joshua Sisson; his foster sons, John
(Nancy) Huber, and Glen (Annette) Crozier; his
foster-grandchildren, Ishvara Brewington, Stacie (Aaron)
Jones, and Ashley Kanode; and his foster great-grandchildren,
Ryan and Maci Kanode; therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we mourn the passing of
William Grant Sisson, and extend our sincere condolences to his
family, friends, and all who knew and loved him; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
presented to the family of William Sisson as an expression of
our deepest sympathy.